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I have a ton of respect for any player who takes that big of pay cut (and on a short deal) to stay in Detroit. Say what you will about the roster and cap situation, but Cleary is a one loyal Wing.

Gee, great. At least it's only for a year. Cleary had better have an excellent year. Otherwise I'm going to do some very extreme nothing, because there's nothing I can do.

Don't care it's only one year. Don't care it's less than Phily. It's an awful signing and we potentially just lost an up-and-comer due to Holland's loyalty.

Why didn't Datsyuk, Franzen or Filppula score those dirty goals and cheap points that Cleary was putting up? Guy went to the scoring areas and was rewarded, while those guys were prancing around. Maybe we could have beaten Chicago if they played as hard as Cleary.

I think this is the best way to go about it as a fan. The season hasn't started yet. No one knows what will happen throughout training camp and up to opening day, but as long as the best players are on the ice in October, and the worst/least effective three players are the ones traded/waived/whatever, then I'll be okay. I trust that Babcock and Holland are a good judge for what will make this team the most competitive, and cuts will be made accordingly. For what its worth, I happen to think Cleary can bring more to the Wings than a guy like Emmerton, but we will see how the cards play out.

WTF is up with the Cleary signing? We already have TOO MANY FORWARDS!!! We are OVER THE CAP! And he STILL had to be signed? My God. I can't, and won't, support this move. We are going to lose a more talented player (and I don't know who) because we just had to have ALL OF THEM. They are hockey players, not Pokemon.

I admire his loyalty, and the injuries he played through during the playoffs. But I swear to god I'll be ******* furious if he takes someone like Tatars spot.

Unbelievable. Hey Ken Holland. I'm determined to sign my next contract with Detroit. Like, REALLY determined. Think you can make a roster spot for me?

He'd just fall down and the octopus would slither away with the puck.

Was totally blind sided by this this morning, re-read the text three times to make sure...I just saw now to what term and I won't lie it looks good, AS long as we don't loose Tartar or Nyquist to the minors!!

agreed. cleary's heart is the size of the grinches.. but like, at the end of the movie

******* ridiculous. They pursued Cleary like he's an all-star, it's unbelievable.

So how do we do this now with Cleary as well as the other spots that need to be cleared? If he takes Tatars spot, I'm driving up to the D and punching Kenny.

You could throw an octopus at him.

I didn't actually believe the Red Wings post on Facebook. I came here. I'm still a little stunned. Welcome back #11! I think this move says this. The Wings think they have enough speed and skill to win BUT the Eastern Conference IS the Eastern Conference and they're darned sure gonna need some corner and in front of the net guys who battle. Tatar is great but I'll take Cleary going into a corner for a puck in a big game in Boston or Pittsburgh.

Welcome back Cleary.

I find it funny that its like I'm the only person who dislikes anybody. Irrational hatred for opposing players. What has to be rational about this? See, I'm not the only one that thinks they're creepy. Because it's pre-season and Wing news is currently relegated to Dan (is he in or out, dammit he talked to Kenny) Cleary. Because one can only take SO MUCH Dan Cleary talk.

This is bizarre. If they do end up losing Tatar over this, my mind is going to be blown, but I don't even know if I'll have the emotional energy to get angry. s*** like this is just not surprising anymore, and that's sad. I've defended and criticized Cleary in the past and in this thread, and while I think he still has value at the right price, I think it'd be nuts to end up losing someone like Tatar so you can get Cleary in his last few years when he's already been on a serious decline. He had a great playoffs, but he's had terrible playoffs in the past too. Again, somewhere in the $1-2 million range is what Cleary should get if he signs with the Wings, and it should only be if it means not losing or further alienating some of your top prospects. In any event, again, this is just a bizarre situation at this point.

If you have to ask, then I'm afraid we can't help you

I hate them also. They dive and I don't like their faces. Why does hate have to be rational?

I wonder if he'll be wearing a Wings jersey?

They're great, down-to-earth people and extremely hard workers. What a disgusting thread. Obviously they're going to negotiate together, there's not enough seperating them to warrant a discrepancy in term/money and they have the best chemistry in (the history of?) the NHL. Would they be good seperate? Yes. But together they make one of the best lines in the league regardless of who is the 3rd man.

They're fantastic players. They play against the opponent's best players every game. They don't whine like Crosby or Malkin. If they want to negotiate together then all the power to them. I hate Canucks fans and dislike the team equally. However, no one can question those two's heart and skill and love for the game.

Ahh yes, Cleary's points were inflated because they weren't "legitimate." If only Flip had gotten so "lucky" he probably would still be a Wing. An empty netter in a one goal playoff game isn't legit? Cleary's empty netter against Chicago came when he was the only one on the forecheck and disrupted the outlet pass from Duncan Keith, leading to the turnover. Then the puck comes back up ice to him and he gets it past two guys from the faceoff circle. Not to mention, your discounting his empty netters overlooks the fact that Cleary was so often on the ice at the end of important games. If he is as awful as you say and constantly turning the puck over, why would one of the best coaches in the NHL have him on the ice in such a clutch situation against the President's trophy winning team (and eventual Cup champion)? The goals that were deflections off his body are from going hard to the net and screening the goalie. On one Abby threw a weak shot from along the side boards that deflected off Cleary and went in. Are you saying Abby should get the credit for blindly throwing the puck at the net from a bad angle, while Cleary shouldn't get any for screening the goalie? The whole reason the puck got by the goalie was Dan Cleary standing right in front of him. I guess when Homer did it you didn't count those either? Because Lidstrom would probably have 50 more goals in his career without Homer getting "lucky" and having the puck hit him. But rather than nit pick all his points, the heart of it is this. If he is anywhere near as bad as everyone says, why did Babcock use him so much? Why did he keep putting an old broken, turnover machine on the ice at the end of so many important games? Why did he push for Holland to get Cleary re-signed? I guess he's an idiot because there can't be any other simpler, more logical reason. Yet somehow in spite of Babcock's idiocy, most fans agree the Red Wings overachieved last playoffs. Strange. I guess he got lucky. Him and Cleary. It's definitely time for Cleary to move on and let the kids play but it's unfortunate he became the whipping boy here in his final season from a fan base that largely considers itself superior to much of the NHL's. Maybe he's going to Philly because the fickle nature of the fans there seemed strangely familiar to him.